Dedicated June 1, 2026
0.6 Miles
Thanks to the generous support of advocates, donors and partners including California State Parks and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the Easy Grade Trail in Mt. Tamalpais State Park was upgraded to allow bike access through a change-in-use project, closing a long-standing Ridge Trail gap for cyclists.
Connecting the Dots for All Trail Users
The Ridge Trail Council had been working with State Parks and local bike advocates for over two decades to open this 0.6-mile section to cyclists in addition to hikers. The new Easy Grade Trail offers a safer, more direct alternative to the narrow and winding, 1.5-mile stretch of Pantoll Road.
Previously, cyclists riding the Ridge Trail through Mount Tamalpais State Park had to turn onto Pantoll Road to continue north. Cyclists will now be able to stay on the trail, traveling north toward Mountain Theater.
The impact of upgrading the 0.6-mile Easy Grade Trail extends far beyond its physical footprint. By looking at this segment through a regional lens, our team identified a major opportunity to enhance trail connectivity for all users.
In partnership with the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), the Ridge Trail Council established an 11-mile parallel route through District-managed land, connecting Easy Grade Trail northward to the existing multi-use Ridge Trail route in the Gary Giacomini Preserve. This allows all trail users to safely navigate this section of Marin County without having to travel alongside car traffic on Ridgecrest Blvd. The original Ridge Trail route along Bolinas Ridge to Samuel P. Taylor State Park will remain open as the primary route through the area, in addition to this new parallel route.
The MMWD Ridge Trail parallel route only became feasible after the completion of the Liberty Gulch Trail project in 2025. As a part of their 3 Gaps Initiative, Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) advocated for an off-road, multi-use trail connection through Azalea Hill to get cyclists off Bolinas-Fairax Road. By repurposing the old Liberty Gulch ranch road, safe and continuous bike access became possible between Mt. Tamalpais and Gary Giacomini Preserve.
Projects like these demonstrate that completing a massive regional network like the Bay Area Ridge Trail is a complex puzzle that goes far beyond drawing lines on a map. It requires a shared vision, creative resourcefulness, and a dedicated coalition of partners to successfully connect the dots across the region.
The Last Piece in the Funding Puzzle
The Change-in-Use process for Easy Grade Trail was completed on paper in 2017 and has been waiting as a shovel-ready project, but adequate funding was missing to start the work. The Council was thrilled to help secure the last piece in the funding puzzle with a timely grant through our Ridge Trail Action Fund from the Janice & Matt Barger Fund. The final necessary funding came at a “Goldilocks” moment to make this project possible: with the nearby Mountain Play theater on hiatus for the 2025 season, construction on Easy Grade Trail could proceed without conflicts.
Construction wrapped up in spring 2026 and in June, the Ridge Trail Council and our partners gathered to cut the ribbon on the freshly upgraded trail, officially dedicating it into the Ridge Trail network.
Ridge Trail Council Executive Director Janet McBride shared, “Easy Grade really has been a vital part of the Ridge Trail story in Marin. With this dedication, 24 miles of Ridge Trail are now connected for cyclists between Muir Woods and Big Rock Ridge near Novato. This project demonstrates what is possible when agencies, nonprofits, advocates, and community members work together toward a shared goal: creating safer access, protecting open space, and expanding opportunities for people to experience the incredible landscapes that make the Bay Area so special.”
Gratitude for our Partners
Many thanks to our project partners for making this Ridge Trail dedication possible!
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